Shepard's / Clairemont Square
Shepard's at the Clairemont Square and Quad
Clairemont Square and Quad was the major shopping center in the San Diego community of Clairemont. It's actually still around and is a typical big-box corporate mess (Clairemont Town Square). The center opened in 1954 and had 44 stores, including a Walker Scott department store (1967/1973). Clairemont was the first large post-war suburb in San Diego. The two developers, Lou Burgener and Carlos Tavares called the development Clairemont after Tavares' wife, Claire. It was coined "A Village Within a City", but it was really just the start of large-scale suburban sprawl in San Diego.
The Journal of San Diego History: Its design represented a new concept in community living because the developers were unwilling to impose the traditional grid system of uniform blocks and streets, but, rather, hired engineers to create a plan of gently winding streets and scenic view lots to take advantage of the deep canyons and lofty bluffs overlooking Mission Bay. Local architects, Harold Abrams, Benson Eschenbach and Richard George Wheeler, designed 20 floor plans for the first development of 500 homes. Built in South Clairemont, these deluxe houses ranged in price from $13,000 to $20,000, featured spacious floorplans, large view windows, fireplaces, tiled bathrooms, paneling and latest kitchen built-ins. After years of housing shortages, San Diegans rushed in to buy these modern homes."
Within a few years, several thousand houses had been constructed, including single family homes, duplexes and apartments. Since Clairemont was somewhat removed from the city proper, commercial business and retail shopping, schools, libraries and other city amenities were designed into the overall plan. Although the concept of suburban living seems commonplace today, this approach was considered novel and Tavares' vision for Clairemont had far-reaching implications for San Diego as it stretched the city limits outward and began the now familiar pattern of migration from city to suburb.
Image: San Diego History Center via Wikipedia
Shepard's was one of a handful of stores selling modern furniture in San Diego during the mid century. I had never heard of it before digging up these photos last weekend at a local market. It looks to be typical mid-range offerings, which would make sense for San Diego, and Claremont in particular. A list of the other modern shops in San Diego during that time can be found at Modern San Diego.
There's Glenn of California and plenty of Danish. The photo at the top of the post has a stack of Dansk on display.
On the left of this view, on top of the Vista of California line of cabinets, is a grouping of La Gardo Tackett ceramics.
I need to locate that large Tackett vase behind the bird pitcher.